❓ Mr. Catania questions the WA government on the disbursement of the $114 million allocated to support small to medium businesses as part of the COVID-19 response, seeking details on spending to date, regional allocation, and reasons for any unspent funds. The answer provides some figures on grant payments but lacks specific regional breakdowns.
AnsweredQoN 6299Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the $1.7 billion of measures introduced by the State Government in response to COVID-19, and in particular the $114 million to support small to medium businesses, and I ask: (a) How much of the $114 million has been spent to date; (b) How much has been spent in Metropolitan Perth and in regional areas?
Please provide breakdowns according to Development Commission regions; and (c) If the full amount has not been spent, why not and when is it expected to be spent?
Please provide breakdowns according to Development Commission regions; and (c) If the full amount has not been spent, why not and when is it expected to be spent?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 August 2020
Responded by
Minister for Treasurer
Response time
1 days
(a) Cheques began to be issued from 16 July 2020. As at 24 July 2020, 15 per cent of grants have been issued to the value of $17.465 million. RevenueWA does not hold data to determine the value of tax forgone due to bringing forward the $1 million tax free threshold from 1 January 2021 to 1 July 2020.
(b) Payroll taxpayers are only required to lodge information about wages payable in Western Australia, not the specific location in the State where the services were provided. As a result, the information used by RevenueWA to ascertain entitlement for the grant does not reliably identify where eligible businesses operate within the State.
(c) More than 90 per cent of payroll tax grant payments to eligible employers in 2018-19 will be made by mid-August 2020. Payments for eligible employers who commenced paying payroll tax in 2019-20 will be issued after the annual reconciliation process is completed around October 2020.
(b) Payroll taxpayers are only required to lodge information about wages payable in Western Australia, not the specific location in the State where the services were provided. As a result, the information used by RevenueWA to ascertain entitlement for the grant does not reliably identify where eligible businesses operate within the State.
(c) More than 90 per cent of payroll tax grant payments to eligible employers in 2018-19 will be made by mid-August 2020. Payments for eligible employers who commenced paying payroll tax in 2019-20 will be issued after the annual reconciliation process is completed around October 2020.
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